Tokyo Rules!!!!!!

will try to get some pictures up but to be honest, they arent really that exciting....

my trip to tokyo was filled with anticipation. everyone said, "oh tokyo! i love tokyo - you will love tokyo!" and i am sure i would love tokyo except that all i have seen of it has been conference rooms, hotels and airports (even now i sit here writing this in the airport). however, here is some of what i can take away from my first trip to tokyo:

people work really late: most people in the states or even in hong kong do NOT want to meet you past 330 in the afternoon. some MIGHT take a meeting at 4 but they are not happy about it. in tokyo, people are more than happy to begin their meetings at 630 in the evening after i have had five other meetings and i am practically drooling on myself because i got four hours of sleep the night before (i never sleep well on btrips because i am so paranoid about waking up on time). so my first full day ended at 730 and my second full day ended at 630. the first night, i was going to go out to some "authentic" japanese place where i can either watch my colleague eat poop or i can watch a woman poop on him. it was a bit unclear but i am told this kind of stuff is fairly normal. i was all amped to check it out but sadly after my first full day, i was so knackered i probably would have eaten the poop because i would have been to tired to refuse. however, after the second full day, i went out with a mate's lady friend who is japanese and lives there. we went to a "typical" japanese restaurant where it was just the two of us with our shoe-less feet in a hole with a table between us. we were closed in by three walls and a sliding door. the food was really really good, the sake was good (she wide-eyed watched me gulp down three of the biggest glasses they offered), the service was great (the handy buzzer you push when you need something is FANTASTIC and i think its a japanese custom that should be implemented worldwide and the conversation was lovely (probably because i chatted away endlessly and only towards the end did i realize she probably caught about half of what i said).

but i digress...where was i...

toilets rule: not only are they clean (japanese, unlike the dirty chinese - do not urinate all over the damn seat. i dont know how the chinese do it. i am not limber enough to get my urine in places where these chinese women are capable) but they are HEATED. i freaking love it. it was chilly during my trip and i have to say there is nothing better than sitting down on that warm seat. the other bit is that the women are very discrete when it comes to the fact that they are human and do have bowel movements. japan was having a water shortage because the women dont like to let anyone hear them calling nature, if you will. therefore, the seats have soundtracks. it covers up the noise they might make and it warns neighbors to get out fast if you hear the airplane taking off noise...big one is coming, folks! and i do have to admit to using the water feature in my hotel room. there is spray and bidet. it was a bit of fun, actually...a little erotic almost...

the kids: i used to think little french kids speaking french were the cutest, but noooooo, they have now been taken over by the japanese kids. there is nothing sweeter than a japanese toddler chatting to their mum & dad. adorable :)

manners: again, unlike the rude chinese, the general japanese public that i encountered are the most polite people in the world. my first meeting bought me chocolates as a gift and my clients today walked me to the narita express ticket counter, helped me with the lady, and walked me all the way to the entrance. i told them to just point me in the right direction but its cultural so i went along with it. they were one step away from carrying me. was really sweet. another admin woman who was in a meeting to take notes for her boss told me after the meeting that i "looked so young but did such a good presentation". i almost kissed her - it was just so sweet. i do have to admit that some of it is a bit over the top and i can see how it might become irritating. i was on the local train coming into the tokyo from the airport and there was a small group of young professionals going home. when a couple got off the train they ALL repeatedly bowed to each other and exited. when the train pulled away the remaining group all waved enthusiastically until they were out of site. i mean, its cute and all but EVERYTIME you do this shit? wow!

other likes: the food, the cleanliness of EVERYTHING, the ease of getting around
dislikes: everyone thinks i am stupid or rude because they talk to me but i dont understand or i ignore them because i dont know they are talking to me. i have to say i dont really like how done up all the chicks get. last night i noticed that prom hair is BIG (no pun intended) in tokyo. i am taking boufonts and curled ends - my friend was telling me yesterday that some girls get up two or three hours ahead of time to do their hair and make up...thats a bit excessive, no?

all in all, i do have to say i REALLY REALLY liked tokyo and i hope i come back soon. next time i will book a couple of days for me to explore.